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"Upon my word, " said Mr. Dashwood, "I believe you are perfectly right. My father certainly could mean nothing more by his request to me than what you say. I clearly understand it now, and I will strictly fulfil my engagement by such acts of assistance and kindness to them as you have described. When my mother removes into another house my services shall be readily given to accommodate her as far as I can. Some little present of furniture too may be acceptable then. "
“哟！”达什伍德先生说，“你说得真是一点不假。我父亲对我的要求，除了你说的之外，肯定没有别的意思。我现在搞清楚了，我要严格履行我的诺言，照你说的，为她们帮点忙，做点好事。等我母亲搬家的时候，我一定尽力帮她安顿好，还可以送她点小件家什。”
"Certainly, " returned Mrs. John Dashwood. "But, however, ONE thing must be considered. When your father and mother moved to Norland, though the furniture of Stanhill was sold, all the china, plate, and linen was saved, and is now left to your mother. Her house will therefore be almost completely fitted up as soon as she takes it. "
“当然，”约翰．达什伍德夫人说，“但是，有一点你还得考虑。你父母亲搬进诺兰庄园时，斯坦希尔那里的家具虽说都卖了，可那些瓷器、金银器皿和亚麻台布都还保存着，统统留给了你母亲。因此，她一搬家，屋里准摆得阔阔气气的。”
"That is a material consideration undoubtedly. A valuable legacy indeed! And yet some of the plate would have been a very pleasant addition to our own stock here. "
“你考虑得真周到。那可是些传家宝啊!有些金银器皿送给我们可就美啦。”
"Yes; and the set of breakfast china is twice as handsome as what belongs to this house. A great deal too handsome, in my opinion, for any place THEY can ever afford to live in. But, however, so it is. Your father thought only of THEM. And I must say this: that you owe no particular gratitude to him, nor attention to his wishes; for we very well know that if he could, he would have left almost everything in the world to THEM. "
“就是嘛。那套瓷器餐具也比我们家的漂亮多了。我看太漂亮了，她们的房里根本不用配摆设。不过，事情就这么不公平。你父亲光想着她们。我实对你说吧：你并不欠你父亲的情，不用理睬他的遗愿，因为我们心里有数，他若是办得到的话，准会把所有财产都留给她们的。”
This argument was irresistible. It gave to his intentions whatever of decision was wanting before; and he finally resolved, that it would be absolutely unnecessary, if not highly indecorous, to do more for the widow and children of his father, than such kind of neighbourly acts as his own wife pointed out.
这个论点是无可争辩的。如果达什伍德先生先前还有点下不了决心的话，这下子可就铁了心啦。他最后决定，对他父亲的遗孀和女儿，按他妻子说的，像邻居式地帮帮忙也就足够了；越此雷池一步，不说有失体统，也是绝对多余的。
